Termination of a Short-Term Lease Agreement in Rotterdam
In Rotterdam, where the rental market is tight due to the popularity of neighborhoods such as Kralingen and the Kop van Zuid, a short-term lease agreement often ends automatically on the agreed end date, as intended in Article 7:232 DCC. If the tenant wishes to terminate earlier, this must be done in writing, observing the notice period under Article 7:271(1) DCC, unless the parties have agreed otherwise. Landlords in Rotterdam may not unilaterally terminate without judicial review, especially not for temporary contracts for students or expats in the port city.
Procedure for Automatic Termination in Rotterdam
The landlord must inform the tenant in Rotterdam in writing at least one month before expiry about the termination. If this does not happen, the tenant may claim continuation of the lease under normal conditions. In Rotterdam practice, with much temporary renting via platforms such as Kamernet, such disputes often lead to proceedings before the Rent Tribunal or the District Court Rotterdam. Local housing associations such as Woonbron advise tenants to check their rights via the Legal Aid Office in Rotterdam-West.
Rights in Case of Unlawful Termination in Rotterdam
If a landlord in Rotterdam attempts to evict the property before the end date without a valid reason, this violates Article 7:231 DCC. Tenants can demand compensation or involve the Rent Tribunal. Important in Rotterdam: check whether the temporary rental complies with the statutory conditions and local rules against room rental abuse; otherwise, full rent protection applies. Case law from the District Court Rotterdam shows that judges declare contracts invalid in cases of abuse, such as illegal subletting in the Delfshaven neighborhood, with retroactive effect to regular tenancy.
Recent examples from Rotterdam cases underscore the importance of written evidence, especially given the rapid turnover in the rental market around Erasmus University.